Lead Carpenter

Are you ready to lead high-quality custom projects with a team that values professionalism, collaboration, and craft?

Are you an experienced, conscientious, and organized carpenter who thrives on balancing hands-on work with team leadership?

Juniper Design + Build is an award-winning residential design/build company working in Portland, Maine, and its surrounding communities. We create beautiful, energy-efficient, sustainably-built custom homes and renovations.

We’re hiring a Lead Carpenter. This role is designed for experienced carpenters with a history of impactful and intentional leadership managing job sites. We offer excellent pay and benefits, including fully paid health insurance, generous paid time off, a tool allowance, and professional development support.

We do things differently
For starters, we're majority women-owned and managed. As much as we admire people with mad skills, we don't hire for skills alone. We have a diverse, respectful, and positive work culture—and a fantastic team—and we're looking for people who really understand the value of that and want to be part of it.

We're invested in helping to move the building industry to more environmentally sustainable practices. We focus on high-performance building and carbon reduction. We're all in on building science and strive to use optimal techniques and materials. We're always learning. You will be too.

What we’re looking for

We're seeking a seasoned carpenter with at least five years of residential building experience, including two or more years in a leadership or supervisory role. You should be confident leading a crew of 3–6 carpenters with varying levels of experience, offering clear direction while fostering a collaborative, professional work environment.

Your technical skillset should include framing, finish carpentry, siding, window and door installation, air sealing, cabinetry, and built-ins. You should be comfortable interpreting construction documents and managing daily jobsite operations, including material planning and coordinating subcontractors.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential, as this role involves regular interaction with both clients and trade partners. We're looking for someone who can manage time and tasks efficiently, solve problems proactively, and maintain an organized, safe jobsite without constant oversight.

We value curiosity and innovation, especially when it comes to energy efficiency and high-performance building practices. If you have certifications like OSHA10, Lead Safe, or Net Zero, that’s a bonus, but not a requirement. Most importantly, you’re someone who takes pride in your work and leads with integrity.

What we offer

- Salary: Starting at $39 per hour and determined by experience
- Health Insurance: 100% employer-paid
- Paid Time Off: Starting at 120 hours/year, plus 10 holidays
- Tool Allowance: $1,000/year for Lead Carpenters
- Retirement Plan: 3% company match (SIMPLE IRA)
- Ferry & Cell Phone Stipends
- Support for professional training and development
- Peaks Island Café coffee account (yes, seriously)
- A values-aligned team that genuinely enjoys working together

Work location & requirements
This is a full-time W-2 position. Our office is on Peaks Island, ME (a 15-minute ferry ride from downtown Portland), and we work on jobs throughout the greater Portland area. You must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. and able to commute to site locations.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer
We recruit, hire, train, and promote regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, or background. We especially encourage applications from people of color, women, trans and nonbinary folks, working-class candidates, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Ready to apply?
Send us a summary of your relevant work experience and why you would be a great addition to our team. No calls, please. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. We look forward to learning more about you!